Rana Kanwar Pal Singh elected Speaker amid AAP walkout

March 27, 2017 07:55 PM

Speaker of Punjab Assembly Congress MLA Rana Kanwar Pal Singh

Chandigarh:Congress MLA Rana Kanwar Pal Singh elected from Anadpur Sahib Assembly seat, was on Monday elected unopposed as Speaker of the Punjab Assembly amid a walkout by the members of main opposition Aam Aadmi Party and its ally Lok Insaaf Party.

On being elected as Speaker, Rana (59), a three-time legislator, said: "As the House has reposed faith in me, I am committed to serving the House with dedication as per rules of the Assembly and seeking full cooperation of opposition benches."

On the second day of 15th Punjab Vidhan Sabha here, Leader of the House and Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh proposed the name of Rana, for the post of Speaker and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra seconded it.

Amarinder said Rana is connected to people at grassroots level. "He always smiles...works with a calm mind. I have full faith that you will turn out to be a successful Speaker," the Chief Minister said.

As the process to elect Speaker started, members of the AAP and the LIP intervened, demanding a debate on the governor's address.

Leader of Opposition HS Phoolka said a discussion on governor's address should be held "as per the Constitution".

He was supported by LIP MLA Simrajeet Singh Bains.

Rana asked the AAP MLAs to go by the rules and give some time to the new government. Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said the Congress was not denying a debate on the governor's address, but "let the government to start its work first".

At this, the AAP and LIP members raised slogans and trooped out of the Assembly.

On being elected as Speaker, Rana (59), a three-time legislator, said: "As the House has reposed faith in me, I am committed to serving the House with dedication as per rules of the Assembly and seeking full cooperation of opposition benches."

Noting that MLAs are criticised often for their un- parliamentary behaviour these days, Rana said "gentleness will make us ornamental to the legislature."

He assured the members of upholding the sanctity and principles of the House and thanked Amarinder Singh, AICC chairperson and party vice president (Rahul Gandhi) for reposing faith in him.

"Amarinder is a charismatic leader for whom the party is not above the interest of the people of Punjab. It is a huge responsibility that has been given to me by the entire House," he said.